Tuesday, February 28, 2017

It prompted us to start out our Gift List with 20 gifts, identify 3 moments in our life which changed our lives, and choose 5 Eucharisteo Mentors. It suggested sending a card or email Thanking them for their example.

I designed these new Nifty Notes, printed some and will bring them to class for participants to use in communicating with their mentors.

I have a couple of cards prepared to send off to ladies which have been a calm and steady influence in my lif.

The clock I designed this week. I chose a vintage clock image to which I added a deep tree back image and a horizontal blur image.

Monday, February 27, 2017

I started with old dictionary pages.
To apply the color I applied 3 Tim Holtz Distress Stains to my acrylic plate. Walnut Stain, Antique Linen, and Faded Jeans. I spritzed that with a bit of water. I laid my page onto the plate and carefully removed it. I set it aside to dry. Once dry, they were flat again.

I ripped the edges to make them fit the card front. I chose a blue green card which coordinated with the color on the printed page. I applied a background with a brown marker before gluing down the dictionary page.

The greeting was color printed in the Early Espresso and Island Indigo on vellum and clear embossed. It was trimmed close to the border. It is held in place with a coordinating mini brad.

I cut the Tim Holtz Jalopy and Arrow Mover & Shaper dies from a warm brown textured card stock. I adhered the Jalopy in the bottom right hand corner and the arrow in the top left hand corner.

I started with a sheet of 12x12 designer paper by Basic Grey - Eskimo Kisses - Starry Night. It features these lovely swirls over a raspberry background and a soft pink on the back side.
Using my Creative Memories Double Square punch I made a set of four small and large for each card. I chose to place the small one on the larger in a diamond shape. I have corner rounded them in the past. I placed the 4 squares on the left hand side of the card.
I printed the greetings in Rich Razzleberry and punched them out with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch. I adhered it to the center of the squares with 3D foam tape.
The squares were mounted to a light blue layer which leaves a large border around it on the white card.

I started with left over invites which featured polka dots in black, a couple of other colors and gold glitter. I chose to cut it down leaving only the sentiment. I used my Creative Memories cutter with the medium oval template and the red knife.
I found organza ribbon in ivory and gold which repeated the colors in the glitter layer. I wrapped it around, knotted it to the front and trimmed the ends.
This was adhered to the black layer which was embossed with the Stampin Up Polka Dot Textured Impressions folder. This layer leaves a small border on the warm taupe colored card which coordinated with some of the dots in the accent layer.

Friday, February 24, 2017

I was out for a meeting this morning so I took advantage of being outdoors to take a few photos. There is a particular area that I go by often and have wanted to stop. Today I stopped. It was very cold on the fingers so I had to keep my gloves on. I love the shiny look of the white bark on this tree. It glowed from the little bit of sun shining. I'm sorry I missed the top of the tree.

I love this Tupperware bowl to the point that I have 2 of them. I love the color, the size and the quality. As you can see in the small photo I melted the edge somewhere along the line. It no longer created a watertight seal so I was limited how I could use the bowl. Since I wrecked the bowl I could not have it replaced on warranty. And buying a new one would mean it would not be yellow. This week, I found a replacement for this Tupperware mixing bowl. It did not have a seal so the price was good but I have one so I am good to go!

I read this book recently for the third time. I think I should read it once a year. It would help me to develop my attitude of gratitude. Ann Voskamp wrote the book after being challenged by a friend to write down 1000 gifts. It changed her view of her life when she actively starting looking in her life for gifts from God. The study guides arrived last week and I have started the bible study.

I bought this wooden cutting board last week. I am quite sure that it is bamboo. I have been wanting one for photography and this one fits the bill to a tee! It has great surface texture from a lot of great use. I ran it through a good cleaning process. I wonder if I should be oiling this?

I found this cobalt blue bottle at the thrift store for a great price. It's sides are very uneven and there are bubbles in the glass. There are wonderful crackles in the glass. I'm going to use it as a vase in my photography. It's going to go well with the few other pieces I have in my collection which I shared here earlier.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

I started leading this bible study today - One Thousand Gifts - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. I have seven ladies registered and I look forward to a time of slowing down, being intentional, checking my attitude and increasing my gratefulness. The video is very well done with wonderful images.

Session 1 - Attitude of Gratitude The book was the result of a challenge to Ann from a friend to write down 1000 gifts. Joy came in the writing down - in the naming the invisible became visible.

One of the images from the video that resonated with me was the act of making bread. In this session Ann is making bread. I really enjoyed that imagery as my mother makes bread every week so it is a comforting reminder of love for me.

We are encouraged to live with our hands wide open and not close fisted.

Gifts in my life:

1. Family
2. Friends, Fellowship
3. Time
4. Health
5. A desire to be useful

Check out this 100 day calendar where you can start writing your your blessings. Take the dare. Start today!

I was looking for another die that would do manger/nativity Christmas cards. I found this die at a local scrapbook store. The selection was not great because we are just passed the season but I was grateful there were a couple to consider.

I created this Christmas Card with a new die - Creative Die 51-254 Manger by Penny Black. It measures 2 inches in diameter. I cut it and the Die-namics Stitched Square Frame from burgundy linen card stock. I ran the square die again through the Big Shot with non shed gold glitter card stock. I trimmed it a little bit to leave the tiny border of card color between it and the frame. The frame was adhered to a ivory textured card and the gold glitter square as adhered in the center of the frame.

The Manger die cut is held in place with just a tiny gold star brad which repeats the star shape and means no gluing tiny pieces of paper. Yeah!

The greeting is a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie in the same burgundy linen card stock with a sentiment punched with the SU Word Window punch. These are layered then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Monday, February 20, 2017

I made a visit to the wetlands recently since the weather was so nice. It felt like spring. I was surprised to see water where ice should be on the pond.
Water does provide nice reflections which ice does not so I appreciated the water. Here are some cattails with still a bit of snow and ice around the edges.
The sun was not shining and the sky was overcast. Their color is a deep golden yellow color so it adds to the brightest of the scene.

These winter versions of flowers along a fence were wonderfully pouffe and light.

Another plant along the fence so I will assume it is cultivated rather than native to the wetlands.

I thought the little yellow clusters looked like flowers with their even rows of petals.

Check out the red stems in the back ground.

The dried leaves on the bushes along the pond had such interesting and alien shapes.

These were grey on grey branches.

Crumpled gently over time to create this dimensional shape from what was a flat leaf in the summer. They must have been quite large originally as they were quite substantial as dried leaves.

The mosaic has these very furry leaves. They look like animal fur. Rosehips provide a punch of red color in the landscape. Another berry maybe dogwood with the red branches. The yellow flowers at the bottom were well preserved and totally delightful.

I received this tea coloring book in the blog giveaway from Margie at Tea in the Valley.

I selected a doodle tea cup and chose colors to coordinated with my afternoon tea. The colors are deep yellow, true blue and navy.

It was our women's fellowship Welcome to my Kitchen group get together this morning. Our host provided some baked quiches, cinnamon rolls, fruit, cheese, yogurt, juice and delicious tea. We were 9 with a few new attendees. It was a wonderful time.

These small quiches were absolutely delicious.

They were baked in muffin tins. They had cheese and ham.

After breakfast and a made a visit to the wetlands.

The pussy willows are starting to emerge. I think it is a bit early and hope they don't get a shock later when we get more snow and cold weather.
It was very encouraging to see them though.

The pond is nearly melted which surprised me. There are bits of snow still showing. I did not manage to get a photo of the chickadees which were certainly singing their hearts out.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

I have been working on my digital photography editing skills. (One of my goals for 2017) I started out with an image I put together while I was working on a challenge on my Flickr group. I have been gathering texture images and I was fortunate that my sister gave me a piece of cheese cloth last time I was there so I took a photo of it against black and white backgrounds. The other layer that I added was an image of a frozen pond with horizontal textures. This week I learned how to create an editing mask so that I can reveal my main elements through the 2 textures I had applied over them. Wishing everyone a nice Valentine's Day.

I was out to visit my Mom and Dad on the weekend and I shared with her my Tea Cup Coaster project. She donated several small pieces of fabric toward the cause. I really enjoy making them. Now I have a good variety of fabric designs to ensure they are all unique.

This was breakfast this morning. A cup of Raspberry Thriller tea in a small bone china teacup set. Rye bread toast with peanut butter and Raspberry Jam. I used one of the napkins I received from Margie at Tea in the Valley in her blog give away. Pink was the color scheme and it fit right in. I placed a Battenburg lace heart at the top of the placemat which has a saying about grand daughters. A pink stained glass angel set in a wooden base stands at the top of the place setting.
I am joining Maggie who hosts Mosaic Monday #27.

Friday, February 10, 2017

I had tea with lemon. This cup was set up for a photo challenge I had on my Flickr account which was lemon.
I made a pot of Jade Citrus Mint in my fluted clear glass teapot with an infuser. I filled the crystal bowl with lemons. These are artificial but I would like one day to have glass ones. The glass honey jar was added then I poured a cup into my Steeped Tea clear glass tea cup. I created a twist of lemon with a slice cut to the center and one end flipped. All set up on a green napkin.

I've made several more tea cup coasters. I just love to make these so my collection is growing so I hope they get the nod for our May women's event but nothing more on the front.

This week meant a trip to the library. It was so cold that I did not really want to venture out but one book had a hold on it so it had to be returned. I dressed up and hit the road. It was better getting around than I thought at frigid temperatures.

I took this book out of the library. It was a pretty quick read. With card making in decline I guess I have been toying with the idea of doing sewing to sell. This book provided a lot of food for thought about product, pricing, materials and venues for selling.

I was not convinced yet that I could make it with this venture. I'm enjoying sewing for now so it will be a hobby for now.

With that said I would like to try making a Open Wide Zippered Pouch. I love that you have full access to the contents of the pouch. I would not be patchworking the outside.

I was encouraged that a couple of my sisters are enjoying their Scrap Sacks I made as Christmas gifts. I think they are a way too cool idea so there will be a few more of those made.

Monday, February 6, 2017

I carry a small fabric bag when I am out and about. I'm still old school, so I use a pen and paper rather an electronic device so the bag holds a coil bound book. I make notes in the book for my errands, details about items I'm on the hung for, and anything I need on that particular day. I always carry a small measuring tape (inset in the large photo).
I have been using a black reusable bag turned inside out to hide the logo. I had resewn the seams on this one several times over the last couple years.
With my latest surge of sewing I decided to make myself a prettier bag. I spent about 2 weeks thinking about this project. I started by recording the measurements of the old one and made some adjustments to the design to make it work better. Adding a pocket for my measuring tape was one of those adjustments and I wanted better attached handles.
I chose a heavy navy fabric saved from an old pair of pants. I lined it with a wonderful yellow fabric and you can see that I created X at the top of the bag where the handles are attached, this will not come apart. I chose a fabric with sunflowers on red background fabric for my pocket. I placed it between the handles. I added a small velcro closure on the pocket to ensure I don't lose my tape measure.
Learnings: I needed to make the pocket taller than wide because I need to finish the top and bottom edges. Some of my seams are not as straight as they should be. The navy fabric is a bit heavy for the project. The bag completely covers the book and you can just see the pen nib sticking out. I did cut a piece of heavy plastic to keep the bottom square. It took me over 3 hours to make. Some of the seams are not as straight as they should be but overall I am happy with it. I look forward to using this bag for years to come.